Hey All. I'm new to the forum and was wondering if anybody has ever gone to Highland Mountain Bike Park's Adult Ayr Academy Camp? I'm in my mid-40s and ride about once per week and would really love to increase my skills. I usually ride alone or with another buddy who is older age and about the same level of ability. We do mostly XC stuff but I'd love to be able to hit some jumps or even just be more confident on turns or off rocks. It's hard to get the nerve to start jumping in your 40's! I get the feeling these camps are mostly for the younger dudes in their 20's and I'd be pretty out of place, maybe not. Also what sort of skills do you need going in? Anyone ever been to this place or another similar mnt bike camp and could comment on what you got out of it? Bonus points if you went to one and your 40+!
IME, most camps are attended by older adults. I've attended a few and there's always someone at least in their 60's, it seems. Exact mix depends somewhat on your skill level, though.
here is what I would do: get on you tube and build yourself a wooden gap jump that you can adjust. work on it in the back yard, and after you build up some basic skills you can take the bag off of your head. use that same you tube to learn to track stand, maybe build a manual machine to learn to manual, and wheelie from there. look up how to bunny hop, and learn that. then take some private instruction. then go to camp. also, you gotta ride more than once a week. even a short skill builder ride after work most days will help quite a bit.
Lots of shitty youtube instructional videos out there.
IMO, youtube is better when you already understand the foundations and are looking for little tips to get better. Then you can weed through lots of different vids on a subject, ignore the bad advice (gotta know what to ignore) and look for the little tips that work for you.
There IS good quality and reliable video instruction out there by good instructors, but it's not on youtube.
ryanleech.com is one that I use. Ryan is only one of the coaches featured in the vids (and there are MANY more coaches who help by providing advice). Ryan Leech is just the one who has put it all together. There are others, too.
Still can't beat having a real life instructor. Especially one that is more talented in teaching, detection and correction (the ability to win Red Bull is not so important).
The problem with jumping and wheelies is that you can spend a life time practicing the wrong things and never figure it out on your own or from most youtube videos.
I've taken Lee McCormack's classes. Definitely worth the effort and investment. IMO its a game changer. The skills you already have get polished. And then his instruction on new skills & bike handling--especially in regards to all the new mtb technologies-are fantastic.
Search for "LeeLikesBikes" for his websites. I believe there are now online classes. He typically travels the U.S. with in person classes.
Definitely no substitute for an in person class. A good coach can watch your form closely and make corrections that will help you progress faster. Watching a video will give you a good overview but without the ability for someone to make personal corrections, you will likely end up with bad habits.
Keep in mind that most courses start off with basic skills and subsequent classes build on those skills. You will not likely get into jumps and drops in your first class. However, if you get a personal class (more expensive), the coach can tailor the class to your personal skill level and requests.
and when the video presenter is not a good teacher, this is especially true.
There's a lot of little things that have to be adjusted or accommodated for each individual. A good coach can see when something isn't working and help a rider work through it. I was taking a lesson once and I was the only person on a fatbike. Having a MUCH wider q-factor affected my foot/knee/hip positioning and the coach had to adjust his advice to me alone to account for that.
I was taking another class (from Ryan Leech personally) where we were working on sketchy decreasing radius turns at speed and for each rider, he (and his assistant coaches) had to look at what they were doing and make specific recommendations about foot placement, weight distribution, approach, all sorts of things. You're not getting that from Youtube (and the online coaching programs I know of have riders video record themselves during practice and submit those videos for coaches to review).
Quick point if you want to video yourself doing a skill so you can make your own corrections: Get the app Coaches Eye. The symbol is a ball cap with a lens on it. The app makes a video but easily allows you to slow mo or stop at any point. You can also draw on the video. As a coach, I've used the app many times and it is super helpful.
Hey All. I'm new to the forum and was wondering if anybody has ever gone to Highland Mountain Bike Park's Adult Ayr Academy Camp? I'm in my mid-40s and ride about once per week and would really love to increase my skills. I usually ride alone or with another buddy who is older age and about the same level of ability. We do mostly XC stuff but I'd love to be able to hit some jumps or even just be more confident on turns or off rocks. It's hard to get the nerve to start jumping in your 40's! I get the feeling these camps are mostly for the younger dudes in their 20's and I'd be pretty out of place, maybe not. Also what sort of skills do you need going in? Anyone ever been to this place or another similar mnt bike camp and could comment on what you got out of it? Bonus points if you went to one and your 40+!
And I also am an ICP coach who teaches fundamental and intermediate level clinics. Sadly, I learned to jump too late, so am not really at the level where I can be a good teacher for jumping.
Yes, I've coached many over 40s, male and female, so you won't be out of place at all.
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